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"She's gone!" The panic in my voice was enough to worry any mother. The missing "she" was a Betta fish. She was new to our little basement suite, and made her home in one of the two bowls beside what I hoped would be the fish of her dreams. Bubbles was lonely. But I was told to keep them apart for a bit, especially since he was nesting, or bubbling, and once they spawned, well, he might kill her, and if she wasn't interested, she might kill him. Troublesome in itself, and would make a great story all alone, but there was magic at play a part from that.

This isn't a boring fish tale, or about magic, trust me, this is a story about a horny fish. And never in my entire life, did I guess how dedicated that could make a fish.

Anyway, back to the frantic scene where I'm running around looking for a fish. I mean, gee, I tore that room apart, because really, where could a fish go? It wasn't like this was beach front property. Nope, my babies were in goldfish bowls by my bed, surrounded by a sea of books.

So anyway, the fish had vanished. Bizarre, even at my place.

Now, I could drag this out and add tension, dialogue, you know, make it a real story-- I know how-- but I'm just going to lay it on ya. When I opened my murder mystery that night, I got a little more dead body than I bargained for. Yup. My baby was squished in the book! Horrified, I tossed her in the bowl.

Looking back, I don't know why, I tossed a dead fish into a bowl of water, I just did. One of those life's like that moments, so just go with it.

Point is, I tossed her lifeless body into water because I was freaked out.
Magically, she refocused and away she went, good as new, making eyes at the hard at work bubble making male who wanted to mate and kill her. He worked even harder at his nest that night-- I think even he was impressed, and hopefully thinking twice about the whole killing her thing. In my mind, she was magical.

Did you know fish could survive in a book for 24 hours? You learn something new everyday, eh? Still, don't try this at home.

I know that in the wild these fish jump from puddle to puddle, but to survive the murderous plot of the mystery I was reading? Wow. I still marvel at how she must have timed that jump perfectly to hit my book, as I closed it. But more so, it amazes me that she survived as if nothing happened!! Wow. She didn't even ask for a shrink. Now. At this point, one can only assume, she knew her fate and was running for her life, or... well... maybe she was looking for pointers in that book about how to survive a murderous boyfriend.
Softy that I am, I decided not to spawn them and just enjoy the miracle.

Well. What the heck do I know? She jumped again that night, right into his tank. Yup. I caught her this time. That wild gal had made the leap into the bubbling Bubble's tank. Man, was he excited!

He never did kill her. In fact, I watched them closely for days, and they ever scrapped either. Just rubbed each other in a very satisfying way, enjoying life's little pleasures. I gave them some privacy after that. They never did successfully spawn. It seems, she did pick up a few things about setting her guy straight too, because every time he made his little bubble nest, she would inspect, destroy, and then watch him work his ass off remaking it, all the while teasing him with her body. Which just kept him distracted from the task at hand, or should I say, fin? Regardless, poor guy couldn't focus to get it right if his life depended on it.

Or maybe... maybe they liked the whole flirting game they had going on, and neither wanted the fun to end.

Contest are fun. We meet experienced and driven writers, we make friends, and we get a chance to improve little tidbits of our work. Yay!!!This week, I've chosen to participate in Shelley Watters' contest. It is only open to YA, Middle Grade, memoir, pop-culture non-fiction, and women’s commercial fiction.

A peek into your life, is a segment spotlighting authors, specialists, and friends who brave my countless questions day in and day out. It's the best way I can share with you all, the many people who taught me the bizarre things I know, who satisfy my thirst for knowledge and adventure, and who keep me motivated.

Louann Carroll has a very exciting site; Welcome! To Paranormal Romance and UrbanFantasy. Now I met Louann during a blog hop hosted by her awesome publishing house Crescent Moon Press. I fell in love with every book on the tour and Gemini Rising was the first one I read. I'm tackling Piper's Fury next!! Thanks Crescent Moon Press for the great blog fest and the awesome book I won!!! Not to mention finding all these kick-a authors. aha.

GEMINI RISING
Wow. Sci-fi with characters who could be my best friends. My heart is still pounding. The story feels so real. What if the planet shifted and aliens came to help in the crossing? Don't imagine it, read about it!! And then! (Excuse me while I fan myself off...) The romance between Kate and the sexy Noah was enough to start up global warming in a New Ice Age. I did not see the end coming and was shocked to the core of my soul. Well done.

This feels like the start of a great series, are there more books with these characters or this end-of the world idea in the works?

Gemini Rising, Olam Ha'Yetzirah, is the second book in the Gemini series. The Olam Yetzirah is the 'home of the angels' where Kate and Noah flee after the birth of Lucia. I am halfway through and have had lots of fun writing this one. The third Gemini is about Noah and Lucia's adventures after Kate and Noah disappear, eventually resulting in unification.

Sumerian chronicles describe a war in the heavens between the beings of Light and the beings of Darkness. Kate and Ryan Kelly are beings of Light. Rathor, Noah's nemesis, is a being of Darkness. This ongoing fight will conclude in the second book, Gemini Rising, The Olam Yetsirah (Place of Angels.)

Gemini Rising feels so real, it could actually happen, what inspired it?

Several years ago, Gemini Rising came to me in a dream after reading Zecharia Sitchin's theories on the planet Nibiru and Sumerian writings. I also wanted to explore what it would be like to survive a pole shift. Those two elements combined into an intense nightmare which became the novel Gemini Rising.

What is the next project you're working on?

I just received A Shadow of Time back from my editor for revisions. Shadow is a paranormal romance tying in multiple dimensions and a little bit of time travel.

Consumed by a childhood filled with terror and pain, Kellyn O’Brien strives to create the perfect family.Then, disaster strikes. Her husband is dead. Three weeks later, she discovers her son is heir to Shadow Ley, a nineteenth century estate located in the Sierra Nevada foothills.

Still reeling from Michael's death, Kellyn moves to Shadow Ley. Soon after her arrival, the ordinary becomes the extraordinary: broken drinking glasses repair themselves, stair rails that were once old are now new, and suddenly the estate of Shadow Ley is not what it seems. Frightened for herself, her son, and her unborn child, she seeks to understand.

She turns to the local historian and hears the tale of Shenahobet, the angry jin, keeper of the portal to time. Soon after, the dreams begin with windows into past lives, hints of multidimensionality, and the promise of life beyond death.

Legends abound and so Shadow Ley, the home Kellyn had hoped would bring peace to herself and her children, becomes mired first in doubt, then in terror, and finally in love eternal.

Who keeps you motivated to write or what inspires you to continue?

I love to write. I have ghost written adoption books, produced radio talk shows, and have had children's books published that were written mainly for my children. Each book is a parable, hopefully teaching a little morality in a difficult world.In my paranormal romances I've found an outlet to ponder the reality of life which brings me great pleasure.

And... now it's time for us to peek into your life.

I have three children and seven grandchildren. I was C.E.O., of Healthguard in Fremont, CA for many years before semi-retiring to the California foothills. I collect rocks, fossils, and Native American artifacts. I live in one of the most beautiful places on earth called Lake Wildwood. A herd of deer live in my backyard and come early spring the turkeys are out for show, strutting their colors and gobbling like crazy. It isn't unusual to see a fox or coyote walk through the backyard and of course, there are my dogs, Chelsea and Gus, who share my life along with my husband, Dennis.

On a more personal note, I am grateful for my life. It has been interesting, at times deeply sad, and always motivating.

So what will we find you doing in your spare time?

With a fishing pole over one shoulder and my tackle box, I'll head down to the lake with my grand kids to fish for croppie and bass. If the weather is hot enough, I'll be in the boat acting as flag person for the skiers in the family. Or swimming. I adore swimming.

If I'm not there, I'm down at the Yuba river collecting rocks or panning for gold. Then there's that deck swing that calls to me to bring a book and settle down for a good read.

Oh yeah, do it, you won't regret it. What a guy! I can't believe all the nice things he said about me.

I'm in the middle of a writing binge, working on a draft called Soulmates of Freedom. Sounds cool eh? It is. I broke out of my box on this one and tried something that has been teasing my nights for a year. I really don't need any more drafts kicking around, but once I get into it, really, I just have to go with it until there's nothing left to say.

Come back on the weekend to meet Louann Carroll. I should be in recovery mode by then. Man, that's gonna be a rush to have a sci-fi writer on my blog! WHHOOOO HOOO!!

I have another task for you while I get blitzed on writing; you can enter Shelley Watters' contest. It's open to YA, Middle Grade, memoir, pop-culture non-fiction, and women’s commercial fiction. Go check it out.

A peek into your life, is a segment spotlighting authors, specialists, and friends who brave my countless questions day in and day out. It's the best way I can share with you all, the many people who taught me the bizarre things I know, who satisfy my thirst for knowledge and adventure, and who keep me motivated.

﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿Now I met Vicki in a crusade. I know, I know, sounds dangerous. It was.I had to pull my blog back from hell in the midst of it. Those who survived are still celebrating.

Regardless, a friendship emerged-- I learnt that these things happen in a crusade. We do have serious things in common. We speak and love French, we have children close to the same age, and we write everyday. Ok. So do like a thousand other people, you say.

Don't worry, I love them all too.

Point is, Vicki is so amazing I hold those mini conversations with her in my mind while I clean, you know the ones... don't you? Don't you?? Ok, so I've confessed too much. Still, she teaches me neat things. I mean, gee, thanks to her I tried bubble tea. See what I mean about teaching me important things?

She keeps me motivated, because really, there is nothing like a best friend to remind you that you should be... ah... writing and not blogging your ass off while drinking bubble tea.

She really does impress me with her many talents. Check out these neat writing mitts she makes for us writers who push through the cold to get our stories out. I feel like a superhero when I wear them.﻿﻿﻿﻿

These are the mitts she makes.
Warm eh?
She actually made these-- from a ball of wool. Geesh.

I know you'll swing by after you read the interview with her, because she's ssoooo awesome!

But don't take my word for it, read her stories for yourself. Well, after you read her interview.

Vicki has done some fascinating things in her life and has been to some very interesting places. How many people do you know who can say that they had an African forest elephant trumpet them while they were in a Land Rover? In a forest? In Africa? Or that they watched an operation being performed on a victim to a landmine explosion? A child? I bet not many.

She is very well travelled.

Her stories are told with detail that intrigue me and that explode to life in my mind with vivid emotions. (Aren't those the best kind?) She's a teacher by nature, and so, the perfect friend for a curious gal like me.

Yup. Trust me and just read her blog, am I ever wrong about these things? I mean really, am I?

Anyway, I digress. I came to share an interview. And so, without cookies, (The dog ate them. Really she did. You can't fill up a St Bernard, they just steal more food. Really.) *as I wipe the crumbs from my shirt* I will let you peek into Vicki's life...

Your blog is very diverse. (As any peek will prove.) How do you decide what to write?

Thank you. I try to balance the writerly type posts with the kinds of stuff my friends and family might want to read. But, at the same time, this is my writing blog so I only write about reading and writing. I write about whatever comes to me, as long as it has something to do with writing, reading and books.

You're also working on novels, what type of audience do you normally write for?

I write for MG and YA. I think I like writing for children because it fulfills my need to write, with my need to teach (and mother). I don’t write textbooks and I don’t let my fiction sound preachy, but every book is a learning experience for me and for my readers. Of course I want to entertain, but I also want kids to learn a little something about the world around them and beyond their comfort zone.

Is there a message that you try to pass on to your readers?

One theme that tends to recur in my writing is self-acceptance. I’m probably still struggling with that myself, so I’d love for readers to learn to believe in themselves. I also tend to focus on social justice. One manuscript examines hatred in Rwanda, and one deals with anti-Semitism in late 19th century Paris, and a girl who learns that there is more to life than just herself.

And... Let's meet the lady behind the scenes. Why not share with us a few things that make you proud.

Oh gosh. Bragging isn’t something we introverted writerly types are too comfortable with, right? I’m proud of having great kids who respect adults and love books. I’m proud to have brought French language education to my son’s school even if it’s only after school. I’m proud of my time in Rwanda and all the things I learned there about the world and humans and myself.

Oh gosh.
We have to stop there, because a peek is really just a peek after all!
Still, that was fun.

I love peeking into the lives of others, and showing off a great friend like Vicki was perfect!

Thanks for stopping by Vicki, and all the best in your writing. C'est toujours un plaisir. Merci!
To read more about Vicki, be sure to stop by her blog for a story.http://www.vbtremper.wordpress.com/
Thanks for stopping by.

Ooo Gabriela Lessa is hosting another awesome contest. I couldn't refuse... the temptation was too much...

So last minute, but I'm in!

Here are the rules because you can play too:To enter this contest, you should post a love scene from a finished manuscript on your blog this Sunday, June 12th. (Yeah today) The excerpt must have a maximum length of 750 words, but can be less! The scene we're looking for can show love in all kinds of ways, in all kinds of genres; YA or adult only. Any kind of love. Go here if you want to play!

Yay! Now I have way too many scenes to choose from, but I went with my newest finished MS. It's in final edits, and no one has read it yet because I'm still clutching onto it. Still it's done and it's full of romance, love, and naughty sex between the demon and the seducer. Well. Here is one of their tamer moments, but love strikes at the oddest times.

Name: Tanya ReimerTitle: FINDING BALANCEGenre: New Adult Urban FantasyEntry word count: 546 words.Manuscript word count: 108,000Link number: 21My Scene; ENTERED Thank you for all the great comments and suggestions. And good-luck to all the enteries.

Thanks Gabriela for a great contest with great prizes!!

UPDATE: Received Honorable Mention for this contest. Thanks Gabriela it was fun!

When I was pregnant 12 years ago, I gobbled up every parenting magazine I got my hands on. I talked nonstop about being a parent, questioning everyone with children, trying to steal their knowledge.

I was going to rock this gig.

hell yeah.

With my second pregnancy, five years later, I couldn't stand the sight of those magazines and if anyone even thought about giving me advice, they were told politely where to shove their knowledge.

I was going to do things my way.

Oh?

Now my youngest is six and I'm not comfortable offering my knowledge yet, but when asked, I will offer my two cents. Why not? My experiences might help someone out of a jam, but I know at the end of the day, every parent, every child, will blossom in a unique way, regardless of what I say.

yeah.

Writing is a bit like this, no?

At first we come into the game looking for rules, experts, and learning. We want to rock this gig.

hell yeah!

Then what happens?

We realize that for every idiot who tells us to put a comma before the "and" in a sequence, another will tell us not to bother. Advice is conflicting. Reading what sells is down right confusing. What do readers want!?!

One agent can't stand the sight of our work yet another is all in love with it.

And so we grow to that point where we can't take the rules and advice. We try things our way and see what happens.

Oh?

Years later, we share our experiences without expectations.

Some of us will reach that expert stage, but even then, some other idiot will give the opposite advice forcing everyone to grow on their own anyway.

yeah.

So, where are you in life? Do you gobble up advice, tell them to shove it, or are you dishing it out?

Well, this week I turn 35. Normally, birthdays slip by unnoticed in my world, but this one does need attention. I mean, it is 35. Plus, with all the things happening in my life, it feels like I should stop and reflect for a moment. Just a brief one, to make sure I'm ready.

Ever get those moments, where you pause and take inventory before heading out again on the path of life?

Now, there are good things about being 35 so I plan to enjoy the following;

-My new found power of turning the volume way down or way up with no one questioning it.

-The fact that I can ruin, and I mean ruin, any meal I want by eating ice cream before it, and no one tells my mom.

-Speaking of moms, she gave up on reforming me to her cleaning ways, and now calls my house "lived in." I feel like I won a life long battle against disappointment.

Of course, there are some weird things about being 35 too, and like some crab crawling in the sand toward me, I could see these things coming, but I ignored them until they snipped at me;

-I told someone I was 33 only to realize 2 days later how wrong I was. Doesn't matter, I don't remember who I told this to. hmmm.

-My friends and I discuss the odd-wild-untameable-grey hair, and not our out-of-control children. I suspect soon, we'll just love them for the joy they are. Denial?

-My daughter tells me I have the coolest old people clothes. Yay me?

Now giving up certain things isn't easy, yet I did give up trying to lose those prego pounds. Yay me!

I even gave up trying to understand certain things and just accept them for the pain in the back they are.

I accept the fact that some things annoy me, make me bitter, and that I am not the all motherly, loving, happy person I never used to be.

So what are my goals? I only have three, and they didn't change since the last time I took inventory. (When I turned 30.)

my goals;

-I want to learn to surf. Coming from Saskatchewan, this is HUGE. And involves swimming lessons and me standing on a beach at awe of waves I had no clue could be so noisy.

I have no logical reason for wanting to this, I just do.

-I want to actively participate in community development in another country. Don't get me wrong, I love working as a community development officer here, but when I read articles about 14 year old married girls who go through childbirth alone... well... there might be a more useful place for me and my husband to use our skills.

I have no reason for feeling this way, I just do.

-I want to hold one of my books, sign my name in it, and hand it to someone who I know will enjoy it.

Again, I have no reason for dreaming about this, I just do.

Now, based on those goals, I did learn somethings I need to... ah... work on this year;

-I need to learn to swim BEFORE I try surfing again. yeah.

-I need a better retirement plan than a library of books if I intend to volunteer in another country. huh.

-I have to actually send my MS out if I expect to see it in print. Who knew?

So. I do have new rules for this year, just to make things easier.

MY RULES FOR BEING 35 ;

-Always take a moment for myself, one to spoil a loved one, and one to help others outside my box.

-Enjoy a rockstar life at least once a month.

-Never try to save an animal in danger without gloves on.

-Never catch a falling cactus without gloves on.

-In fact, there are a few other reasons to keep my gloves on, I'll just keep them handy.

-Always, always sleep with a nightlight on.

Should be fun. I'm ready. Bring on 35! I plan to kick some serious words this year! oh yeah.